Reviews (1)

Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia
From its review in Choice Magazine (May 2003)Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Firearms    3. General    4. Gun control    5. History    6. International Relations - Arms Control    7. Law and legislation    8. Political Freedom & Security - Law Enforcement    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Reference    11. Social aspects    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. Reference works    15. Social Science / General    16. USA    17. Violence in society    18. Weapons & equipment   

Reviews (3)

Heavy on the politics
I had really high hopes for this one. I enjoyed the first several chapters because they pulled me right in with recent political/military tension in the world. It's especially interestingin the context of Bush's pursuit of all these 'rogue' regimes lately. The balance of the book was a lot tougher for me. It's really just the intricacies of politics that turned me off. I imagine many people won't mind the minutiae and will enjoy this book.

Hit to Kill
This book was recommended to me ..., the Alaska state coordinator for National Missile Defense.I am using it as a resource in an Army War College paper concerning the effect of NMD on potential enemies and allies.This book was of great assistance.Mr. Graham has done an excellent job teaching the history of the program and detailing what has gone right and wrong from the beginning.Excellent, balanced presentation that is easily understandable in a single reading.The chapters are Threat, Policy and Politics, Diplomacy and Technology, and Decision.A top addition to my library and recommended reading to all who are researching, or just curious, about this subject.

Hit to Kill
Bradley Graham provides a history of American proposals and efforts to build a ballistic missile defense system, from the U.S. military studies to counter Germany's V-2 rockets in 1944, through Reagan's Star Wars proposal, to the impact on the issues resulting from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He covers the technical, political, international relations, cost, and budgetary aspects. He presents the successes and failures of the government's efforts, and the views of proponents and opponents at each step. The book is readable, and explanations of the complex technical matters are usually presented in words that the layman can comprehend. He retains the objectivity one would expect from a fine journalist. Any reader, regardless of his views on the issues, will be better informed after reading this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballistic missile defenses    2. Ballistic missiles    3. Defenses    4. General    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. Military readiness    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. United States    11. Defence strategy, planning & research    12. Nuclear weapons    13. USA   

Reviews (17)

A Comprehensive Review of Bush Starting With the First Election
The present book is a compelling read and covers many but not all of the major issues on terrorism and Iraq.
A decent overview
The book is an adequate overview of President Bush's foreign policy through the first three years of his office.But it does not do justice to the more intelectually challenging questions of the administration's foreign policy such as why exactly did America go to war in Iraq and what kind of role are the neo-conservatives playing in the administration.

A reasoned, balanced critique of Bush's foreign policy
Unlike the rather vitrioic and harsh rhetoric of the Bush-hating left, this book presents a fair yet reasoned critique of the Bush foreign policy.It rebuts the common assertion that Bush is an idiot or that he is being a tool by a neo-conservative cabal.
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Subjects:  1. Balance of power    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. International Relations - Arms Control    4. International Relations - Diplomacy    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Unilateral acts (International law)    11. War on Terrorism, 2001-    12. International relations    13. Political Science / Arms Control    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Case studies    2. Civil society    3. General    4. Human rights    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. International Relations - General    7. Non-governmental organizations    8. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    9. Political Science    10. Political participation    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Political Science / International Relations    14. Political activism   

Reviews (3)

Declassified Data from our Time
When I was in high school in 1960 the United States launched the first Discoverer satelite was launched. It was, of course, launched for purely peaceful, scientific purposes.
Second review on Corona paper collection
I concur with the assessment of the first reviewer (I am also from UCSB).A knowledgeable person can easily figure out some of the redaction except for the budget figures.The article is probably largely derived from thespecial issue of Corona published in the 70s in Studies in Intelligence.Ihave seen this volume at UCSB (from the 1995 meeting) in a colleague'soffice. F irst steps in the declassification of CORONA
This volume began as a set of declassified and redacted documents ('redacted" meaning words and text still classified were blotted out) that was prepared by the CIA History Staff for distribution to participantsin the November, 1995 symposium in which the CORONA reconnaissancesatellite program (1958-72) was offcially declassified.The"story" of CORONA has now been told in three subsequentlypublished books-- if you get to this review you probably are aware of theother books-- but this volume, because it presents declassified materialsthemselves, has much value.Highlights include CIA historian KennethGreer's 1973 short history of the CORONA program, originally published as"TOP SECRET", and a fascinating report on the geologicalapplications of CORONA photography, originally commissioned by the CIA from[name deleted} in 1971.The latter is critical, particularly becuase somuch of contemporary earth science applications of remote sensing descendeddirectly from CORONA and its allied reconnaissance systems, almost all ofwhich remain classified at present (February, 2000). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. International Relations - Arms Control    5. Military    6. Military - Strategy    7. Military - United States    8. American history    9. History / Military / Strategy    10. History / Military / War    11. History/Military - United States    12. Military tactics    13. Political Science/Government - Comparative    14. USA   

Reviews (12)

Stimulating and Informative!
A wonderful book for academics and anyone looking for a good read on how the human rights movement was promoted or neglected during the post -cold war period in the United States.Through numerous interviews, Julie Mertus has compiled a fascinating look into the world of U.S. foreign policy and its interaction with human rights in the international community.The objectivity of the book was useful in gaining a broad perspective of various influences on human rights in the U.S. including presidential administrations, civil society, and the military.
An Essential Guide to Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy
In Bait and Switch: Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy, Julie Mertus presents a balanced and analytical view of how human rights have consistently been neglected as legitimate foreign policy considerations.Although expecting to find human rights norms deeply "embedded" in post-Cold War presidential administrations and the U.S. military, Mertus finds that all too often U.S. foreign policy has been guided by a particularist "American exceptionalism" which threatens to undermine the core nature of universal human rights.
Clear and powerful
A very good primer on US Government's foreign policy for someone who lives outside US and has experienced the outcomes of double standards that the US Government has been employing with regard to his country. Healthy criticism is an inseparable part of healthy democracy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Public Policy - General    2. International Relations - General    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Politics/International Relations    5. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    6. International Relations - Arms Control    7. Political Science / Foreign Legal Systems    8. Government - Comparative    9. United States    10. 1989-    11. Political Science    12. Government policy    13. Foreign relations    14. Human rights   

Reviews (10)

Excellently Written
I was just spellbound when I started reading this book. The Prologue is so philosophical! I have not come across a similar book in International Affairs in recent days!
A Considerably Good Piece of Literature
This work deals with the destructive potential of the `ultimate weapons' and at the same time the ways of dealing with the problems these weapons might pose to international peace and security. The book helps both generalists and the specialists understand how the policies of nuclear-weapon states affect our lives. The book covers the period from 1945 to 2003 and examines essential parts that both political acts and actors must play before any negotiation process can begin, if the objective is to end proliferation and eventually bring about abolition of nuclear weapons.
Well Done
I have gone through every details of this book and, I recommend this book all persons who look beyond themselves. I believe this book will be liked by all. Emeritus Professor Satyabrata Rai Chowdhuri deserves kudos for doing such a wonderful work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-1989    2. 1989-    3. International Relations - Arms Control    4. Nuclear arms control    5. Nuclear nonproliferation    6. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. World politics    11. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. International Relations - Arms Control    2. Internationalism    3. Political Freedom & Security - Terrorism    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - Environmental Policy   

Reviews (1)

How the Treaty was Negeotiated and Not Ratified
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) has had a long and interesting history. It was painstakingly negeotiated over a period of many years and signed ten years ago. Then a whole series of countries: China, India, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea and the United States refused to ratify it. At the same time, they announced that they would abide with the main provisions of the treaty.
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Subjects:  1. (1996)    2. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty    3. General    4. International    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. International Relations - Treaties    7. Law and legislation    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. Nuclear weapons    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Testing    14. Arms negotiation & control    15. International humanitarian law    16. Treaties & other sources of international law   

Reviews (4)

a must-read book!
Even though this book is emotionally painful to read, I feel it is a must-read book for all Americans who want to understand what our government has been doing -- and continues to do -- in the Middle East (and other parts of the world) in our name and with our tax dollars. A sharply worded, insightful, articulate analysis
Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy And The Roots Of Terrorism by Stephen Zunes (Associate Professor of Politics and Chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program, University of San Francisco) is a informed and informative explanation and analysis of current U.S. policies in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on their political shortcomings with respect to the rise of international terrorism and American national security. Specifically addressed is the critical question of whether or not American political policies with respect to the Middle Eastern nations have diminished or engendered terrorism? With an especial eye upon the September 11 attacks and their root causes, Tinderbox is a sharply worded, insightful, articulate analysis of politics and its deadly outcomes which is a welcome contribution to the national dialogue regarding the current "war on terrorism".

Timely
The news and history as read in detail and at a distance from mainstream, from someone who follows the news carefully and meticulously. Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. General    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Developing countries    2. General    3. International Relations - Arms Control    4. International Relations - Treaties    5. Military Science    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Refugees    10. Security, International    11. Political Science / General   

Reviews (9)

Fianally the truth about 2nd Amendment history.
Shooting Straight is a fantastic book about guns in America. It corrects all of the intentional errors put forth by the liberal media in this country and gives you the facts, both statistically and from a historical perspective.Wayne LaPierre is currently the head of the NRA, yet you don't get a feel for biased perspectives or crazy rants, distorted facts that are common in other left-wing media based text.The author simply states facts, both statistical and hisorical concerning gun ownership, right to carry laws and the second amendment.This book correctly summarizes what the founding fathers intended through the second amendment and he proves this by citing indisputable examples of their quotations and writings through the federalist papers.
Arthur Hayhoe is a Deceitful Gun Owner
This book is fantastic and you cannot argue with facts, unless of course your name is Arthur Hayhoe.This is a gentleman who carries and conceals his own weapon, be aware of that when listening to his anti-second amendment rhetoric.He is deceitful and elitist.

Finally the truth about guns
It is unfortunate how many people think they know something about guns, however, they have absolutely no idea (never owned one,never viewed children in the field with their parents enjoying the outdoors, etc...).The media tries so hard to brain wash the ignorant and weak to believe guns are bad.Guns have been a positive part of our heritage from the beginning (parents and children, friends, individuals and their dogs, etc...) and this book shows the TRUE story from people who know something about guns and not those misinformed people who get their information strictly from the media. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Firearms    2. Firearms ownership    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Gun control    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. Law and legislation    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Public Affairs & Administration    12. United States    13. Political Science / Reference   

Reviews (1)

This tell it like it is book is an interesting read.
This is a great book which details the struggle that non-profit groups, individuals and countries undertook in order to ban landmines.Read more

Subjects:  1. Comparative    2. International Relations - Arms Control    3. International Relations - General    4. Land mines (International law)    5. Law    6. Military - Weapons    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Arms negotiation & control    10. Human rights    11. International relations    12. Peace studies    13. Political Science / International Security    14. Politics | International Studies | International Security & Strategic Studies    15. Weapons & equipment   

Subjects:  1. International Relations - Arms Control    2. International Relations - General    3. Nuclear nonproliferation    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Arms negotiation & control    8. International relations    9. Nuclear issues    10. Nuclear weapons   

Reviews (1)

How the West won
More than an overview of the best university and think tank efforts to help American policy makers turn the Cold War into a propaganda battle that the West could win, THE MAKING OF THE COLD WAR ENEMY by Ron Robin (Princeton University Press, 2001) almost captures the perversity of the times in which World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam were not quite what everybody was expecting to happen next, but close enough to fit into the conceptual framework that explains how narcissism was the greatest enemy against which governments and the social planners on every side were sure to end up offending someone.Typical of the thinkers included, Thomas Schelling is given credit for maintaining a single idea."Whether analyzing the strategies of America's global adversaries, domestic economic developments, or social trends at home and abroad, Schelling identified monopoly--economic, political, or ideological--as the source of all evil."(p. 39).Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: American    4. History: World    5. International Relations - Arms Control    6. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    7. United States - 20th Century    8. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    9. American History    10. Behavioural theory (Behaviourism)    11. History / United States / 20th Century    12. History of specific subjects    13. International relations    14. Military intelligence    15. Political Science and International Relations    16. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    17. USA   

Subjects:  1. Arms control    2. Disarmament    3. Former Soviet republics    4. International Relations - Arms Control    5. International Relations - General    6. Nuclear disarmament    7. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Weapons of mass destruction    12. Arms negotiation & control    13. Political Science / General    14. Political science & theory   

Reviews (1)

Superb analysis, lacks alternatives
Keith Payne is no novitiate to the field of nuclear strategy.He famously argued during the Reagan administration that a nuclear war was not only calculable, but also winnable.Picking up this book, I expected it to follow the Herman Kahn school of analysis.How pleased I was to find I was wrong.
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Subjects:  1. Cold War    2. Deterrence (Military Science)    3. Deterrence (Strategy)    4. International Relations - Arms Control    5. Military - Nuclear Warfare    6. Military Science    7. Military policy    8. Modern - 20th Century/Nuclear Age    9. Nuclear Weapons    10. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    11. Political Science    12. Politics / Current Events    13. Politics/International Relations    14. United States    15. International relations    16. USA   

Subjects:  1. Arms control    2. Foreign relations    3. International Relations - Arms Control    4. International relations    5. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Security, International    10. United States    11. Arms negotiation & control   

Subjects:  1. International Relations - Arms Control    2. Political Science    3. Politics / Current Events    4. Politics/International Relations    5. International relations   

Reviews (4)

This book should be retitled "Choose Peace!"
Yeah, choose Peace. This is the heart of Nichiren Buddhism----which is what SGI President Daisaku Ikeda practices. This book, Choose Hope, is a fantastic analysis on humanism and democracy. What's more is how we as human beings should be thinking of ways how to prevent war, not to extend it or prepare when it happens. As strongly emphasized by this book, preventing war/conflict is the absolute purpose of humanity. Some factual background about the co-author
The co-author of this book, Daisaku Ikeda, is the president of a lay Buddhist organization called Sokka Gakai International(SGI).Weather a person practices buddhism or not the facts speak for themselve.SGI with Mr. Ikeda's leadership has help millions of people live happy productive lives and the world is a better place for it.As for the born again Christians who want to bring their Bibles to Buddhist meetings so they can proselytize their own faith I say this.Your waisting your time and your efforts are not appreciated.Have a great day.

Not all SGI Members follow these teachings...
Being a born again Christian..I LOVE everyone of ALL Faiths..I enjoyed reading the Book Choose Hope..Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. International Relations - Arms Control    3. Military Science    4. Peace    5. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Peace studies    10. Political Science / History & Theory    11. History    12. Politics